CMI researchers from Ames National Laboratory conducted the activity for this highlight
Achievement
The Critical Materials Innovation Hub innovation of a novel permanent magnet that uses no critical rare earth elements won a prestigious 2025 R&D 100 Award.
Details
- The “MnBi-based Rare-Earth-Free Permanent Magnet” was developed through the CMI project led by Jun Cui, Ames National Laboratory, with Wei Tang, Ames National Laboratory.
- Their work focused on developing a cost-effective, functional permanent magnet that would use less or no rare earth elements or critical materials and have strong enough magnetism to be used in motors, where they would be subject to high temperatures and external magnetic fields.
- They created a rare-earth-free magnet that is strong at room temperature and retains magnetism at high temperatures.
- The magnet is a combination of manganese and bismuth (MnBi) that is prepared in a way that prevents grain interactions, which can reduce magnetism.
Hub Targets Addressed
- Accelerated magnet discovery and maturation.
- Developing novel materials processing methods.
